Interesting 98/05 marked to Air Surveillance Department ?

The title isn't what you would normally think it would mean. It has nothing to do with airplanes. The nA 98/05 Plain Blade bayonet is matched on the cross guard and scabbard as: LS400. It was made by Waffenfrabrik, Mauser A.G., dated W18. Please read on............................

Air surveillance departments, 1922
*The above taken from: German Police Unit Marks, 1920 - 1937.

LS refers to a Province in Saxony. I assume the 400 refers to the Waffen Nr. ? Perhaps a knowledgeable member can enlighten me.


The Weimar Republic's air surveillance department, the Research Office of the Reich Air Ministry (Forschungsamt), primarily focused on monitoring domestic communications, including all forms of communication within Germany and from Germany to foreign countries. Their duties included collecting and intercepting all communications, including telegrams, telephone conversations, personal letters, and printed materials. They also monitored the press and had a network of intercept stations throughout Germany, particularly focusing on high-ranking officials, Nazi Party members, and Reichswehr personnel.

Here's a more detailed breakdown of their duties:

• Domestic Communication Monitoring:
  The Forschungsamt's main task was to collect and analyze all communications within Germany and from Germany to other countries.
  
• Surveillance of Key Individuals:
  They paid particular attention to the communications of high-ranking government officials, Nazi Party members, and Reichswehr personnel.
  
• Intercepting Communications:
  They intercepted telephone conversations, telegrams, and other forms of communication.
  
• Monitoring the Press and Printed Materials:
  They also monitored the press and all printed materials.
  
• General Delivery Letters:
  Surveillance of general delivery letters formed a large part of their work.
  
• Spy Network:
  They gradually built a large spy network throughout Germany, with interception stations and agents in various locations.
  
  Collaboration with Other Agencies:
  They collaborated with other intelligence agencies, such as the Abwehr, which focused on foreign espionage.
• 
  
  

I think the stamp means "Landjägerei Schneidemühl" or "Landjägerei Schule", not air surveillance department.
Both the website you quoted and my literature point to the "L"-prefix as "Landjägerei". Additionally, I don't see why "secret agents (mostly in offices)" would need to lug around a bayonet...



But what gives me more of a headache is the height of the "400" stamp. Usually the letter stamps were tall and the numbers way smaller, not a uniform size...
Could be WW2 "Luftschutz" use as the bayonet is blued and has the backside of the grips screws slotted, which was done from 1932 onwards.

Personally it doesnt look like a Landjaegerei bayonet, firstly the marking is not in correct manner for police stamped, secondly here is NS period refurbishment typical for hidden equipment as this piece probably doesnt have any 1920 stamp?? was not presented here, on a police item it should be present probably when used since 192x.
LuftSchutz unit of later period could be real even not RLM marked.

Thank you Sir Mortimer and AndyB for your much appreciated input. It seems that we are at an impasse for the translation of LS. I thought for sure that I had nailed it. I tried searching for the meaning of Landjaegerei Schneidemuhl but nothing viable came up. Would one of you please translate. I neglected to mention that there is no 1920 stamp on the opposite cross guard.

My thinking on the LS designation and air surveillance was that guard/security personnel would carry the bayonet much in the same manner as RLM personnel.

Just as there are always questions and non-standard markings on Imperial German bayonets, so too the same seems to hold true with the WW2 period.

Schneidemühl - the name of the city, currently located within the borders of Poland, Piła

The Landjägerei is a Landes Gendarmerie in that case. Certainly not typical marking. But the marking looks here more as late 30ies and not as proper Police unit. no dots there between the letters ,no district number etc.